Summerfruit NZ welcomes today’s announcement by Minister Hipkins, which is another step towards the safe opening of New Zealand’s border.
The health requirements that were in effect for the RSE Quarantine-Free Travel trial will be removed on 14 November, after which there will be no requirement for RSE workers to isolate on arrival, or have saliva tests, due to the low Covid-19 risk in their home countries. Everyone involved in the RSE scheme is absolutely committed to ensuring that best practice continues to be followed, to help safeguard everyone’s health, both in New Zealand and in the Pacific. The changes will make it much easier for RSE workers to move about and between employers, and will reduce costs for employers.
RSE workers and employers from the horticulture and viticulture industries have successfully followed all isolation protocols during the Quarantine-Free Travel trial. Due to the success of this trial, RSE workers and employers have helped to open New Zealand’s border up for more industries and for New Zealanders returning home. The industry collective would like to thank the Immigration and Ministry of Health officials for working so closely with industry to ensure the RSE Quarantine-Free Travel trial was a success.
The industry collective that has been working with officials on the trial remains committed to the repatriation of the RSE workers that have been in New Zealand longer than usual, and we are relieved that two-way travel is now becoming more of a reality.
Regarding the MIQ changes announced today, I hope the release of more MIQ spaces will improve the chances for essential skilled workers to secure MIQ spaces. Summerfruit employers have struggled to get essential workers into the country, such as highly-skilled cherry grader operators who travel annually between New Zealand and northern hemisphere cherry operations.